unfirmadj.

Forms: Also Middle English unferme, 1500s unfarme.

Etymology: un- prefix¹ 1; compare infirm adj.Previous versions of the OED give the stress as: unˈfirm.

1. Of a loose or soft consistency; incompact.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > types of softness > [adjective] > lacking firmness

unfirm1599

1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet v. iii. 6 The Church-yard..Being loose, vnfirme with digging vp of Graues.

1625 K. Long tr. J. Barclay Argenis ii. ii. 71 Further onward the water very deepe, and the ground vnfirme.

1683 T. Tryon Way to Health 95 What is the reason that most Veal is so unfirm and like a Jelly?

1726 G. Leoni tr. L. B. Alberti Architecture II. 117 b When the banks of a River are unfirm, its channel will be stopt up with shelves.

1866 J. B. Rose tr. Ovid Metamorphoses 1 Unfirm the earth, unbuoyant was the wave.

†2. Unsound, weak, unreliable; unsteady, flighty. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > change > changeableness > [adjective]

slidinga900

wankleeOE

windyc1000

unsteadfastc1200

fleeting?c1225

loose?c1225

brotelc1315

unstablec1340

varyingc1340

variantc1374

motleyc1380

ungroundedc1380

muablea1393

passiblea1393

remuablea1393

changeablea1398

movablea1398

variablec1397

slidderya1400

ticklec1400

variantc1412

flitting1413

mutable?a1425

movingc1425

flaskisable1430

flickering1430

transmutablec1430

vertible1447

brittlea1450

ficklea1450

permutablec1450

unfirmc1450

uncertain1477

turnable1483

unsteadfast1483

vagrantc1522

inconstant1526

alterable?1531

stirringc1540

slippery1548

various1552

slid?1553

mutala1561

rolling1561

weathery1563

unconstant1568

interchangeable1574

fluctuant1575

stayless1575

transitive1575

voluble1575

changeling1577

queasy1579

desultory1581

huff-puff1582

unstaid1586

vagrant1586

changeful1590

floating1594

Protean1594

unstayed1594

swimming1596

anchorless1597

mobilec1600

ticklish1601

catching1603

labile1603

unrooted1604

quicksilvered1605

versatile1605

insubstantial1607

uncertain1609

brandling1611

rootless1611

squeasy1611

wind-changinga1616

insolid1618

ambulatory1625

versatilous1629

plastic1633

desultorious1637

unbottomed1641

fluid1642

fluent1648

yea-and-nay1648

versipellous1650

flexile1651

uncentred1652

variating1653

chequered1656

slideable1662

transchangeative1662

weathercock-like1663

flicketing1674

fluxa1677

lapsable1678

wanton1681

veering1684

upon the weathercock1702

contingent1703

unsettled?1726

fermentable1731

afloat1757

brickle1768

wavy1795

vagarious1798

unsettled1803

fitful1810

metamorphosical1811

undulating1815

tittupya1817

titubant1817

mutative1818

papier mâché1818

teetotum1819

vacillating1822

capricious1823

sensitive1828

quicksilvery1829

unengrafted1829

fluxionala1834

proteiform1833

liquid1835

tottlish1835

kaleidoscopic1846

versative1846

kaleidoscopical1858

tottery1861

choppy1865

variative1874

variational1879

wimbly-wambly1881

fluctuable1882

shifty1882

giveable1884

shifty1884

tippy1886

mutatory1890

upsettable1890

rocky1897

undulatory1897

streaky1898

tottly1905

tipply1906

up and down1907

inertialess1927

sometimey1946

rise-and-fall1950

switchable1961

the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > mental wandering > light-mindedness > [adjective]

lightlyeOE

lightOE

lightsomea1425

flying1509

light-minded?1529

tickle or light of the sear?1530

giddya1547

light-headed1549

gidded1563

giddish1566

fling-brained1570

tickle-headed1583

toyish1584

shallow1594

leger1598

corky1601

barmy1602

airy1609

unfirma1616

unballast1622

cork-brained1630

unballasted1644

kickshawa1655

unserious1655

unstudious1663

flirtishc1665

caper-witteda1670

shatter-headedc1686

corky-brained1699

flea-lugged1724

halokit1724

shatter-brained1727

scattered-brained1747

shatter-witted1775

flippant1791

butterfly-brained1796

scatter-brained1804

gossamer1806

shandy-pated1806

shattery1820

barmy-brained1823

papilionaceous1832

flirtatious1834

flirty1840

Micawberish1859

scatterheaded1867

flibberty-gibberty1879

thistledown1897

shatter-pated1901

trivial-minded1905

scattery1924

fizgig1928

ditzy1979

c1450 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi iii. lxiv. 149 In þe þerfore I sette all my tribulacion,..for I finde all vnferme & vnstable, what euere I beholde oute of þe.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) ii. iv. 32 Our fancies are more giddie and vnfirme..Then womens are.

†3. Weak; wanting in strength or power; feeble, infirm, invalid. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > bodily constitution > bodily weakness > [adjective]

wokec897

unstronga900

unmightyeOE

feeblec1175

strengthlessc1175

unwieldc1220

weaka1300

frailc1384

unwieldyc1386

unthendec1425

dissolutec1450

unsure?a1475

feyc1475

simple1477

unfirm1483

unsinewed?1541

wash1548

weakling1557

ladylike1566

silly1567

water weak1592

washya1631

wankle1686

foible1715

unmuscular1725

nerveless1792

wankly1795

shilpit1813

wankya1825

sinewless1829

weedy-looking1835

queachy1859

insubstantiala1861

paper-backed1888

weak-fleshed1967

the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > inconstancy > [adjective]

unfastc888

unstathelfasteOE

unsteadfasta1200

fleeting?c1225

changeablea1275

ficklea1275

unstablec1290

waveringc1315

flickerc1325

loose in the haftc1325

motleyc1380

unsadc1384

variablea1387

variantc1386

ticklec1400

inconstant1402

flitting1413

brittle1420

plianta1425

mutablec1425

shittle1440

shittle-witted1448

moonishc1450

unconstant1483

unfirm1483

varying?a1500

pliablea1513

fluctuant1575

changeling1577

shittle-headed1580

cheverel1583

off and on1583

chameleon-like1589

changeful1590

limber1602

unsteady1604

ticklish1606

skittish1609

startling1619

labile1623

uncertaina1625

cheverelized1625

remuant1625

fluctuate1631

fluctuary1632

various1636

contrarious1643

epileptical1646

fluxilea1654

shittle-braineda1655

multivolent1656

totter-headed1662

on and off1668

self-inconsistent1678

weathercocka1680

whifflinga1680

versatile1682

veering1684

fast and loose1697

inconsistent1709

insteadfast1728

unfixing1810

unsteadied1814

chameleonic1821

labefact1874

ballastless1884

weathercocky1886

whiffle-minded1902

the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by poor growth > [adjective] > growing poorly or withering

feyOE

withering1599

weak1600

misliking1601

unfirm1616

languishing1683

sickly1697

marcescent1727

weakly1775

miffy1850

wilting1884

society > law > rule of law > illegality > [adjective] > legally invalid or faulty

vicious1393

void1433

naughtc1449

irrite1482

frustrate1497

null1542

bad1613

inofficial1632

null and void1651

unfirm1660

uncurrent1702

invalid1768

inept1818

inoperative1885

1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 84/1 Theuangelyste was not so unferme but that he myght gete for hys syght that saynt andrewe gate for hym so lyghtly.

a1542 T. Wyatt Psalm xxxii. 243 in Coll. Poems (1969) I..fele my bonis consume and wax vnfarme By dayly rage.

1616 G. Markham tr. C. Estienne et al. Maison Rustique (rev. ed.) iii. ix. 345 A subiect of a more feeble and vnfirme [1600: infirme] nature than the graft it selfe.

1660 Bp. J. Taylor Ductor Dubitantium II. iii. v. Rule 8 §8 For without it, it [sc. marriage] is not only inauspicious and unlucky, but illegal, unfirm and insufficient.

4. Not firmly placed or planted; insecure; unstable, unsteady; liable to slip or fall.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > unsteady movement > [adjective] > tottering > unstable

unstable1390

unsteadfasta1400

tickle1515

unstayed1594

unsteady1598

shittle1601

firmless1605

flitty1642

totty1652

shuttlec1682

unfirm1697

wankly1795

wankya1825

cockery1825

wobbly1833

tottlish1835

earthquaky1837

tottling1849

shaky1850

cockly1859

unsteadied1865

shoggy1866

wankle1869

wibblety-wobblety1877

cockerty1895

tipsy1895

rocky1900

wibbly-wobbly1901

tottly1905

topply1913

wibbly1914

the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > [adjective] > of purpose, resolution, etc.

softening1600

vacillatorya1734

unfirm1771

equivocal1791

vacillating1828

vacillate1830

mammered1842

ambivalent1923

hedgy1928

on-again off-again1946

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis x, in tr. Virgil Wks. 509 Now take the Time, while stagg'ring yet they stand With Feet unfirm.

1761 Earl of Pembroke Mil. Equitation (1778) 58 Depend upon it those people are not only ignorant and unfeeling, but also very unfirm in their seat.

1771 E. Griffith Hist. Lady Barton III. 20 His supplicating eye..may change my unfirm purpose.

1809 Susan I. 176 Our best resolutions are, however, unfirm.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online September 2021).

单词	unfirm
释义	unfirmadj. Forms: Also Middle English unferme, 1500s unfarme. Etymology: un- prefix¹ 1; compare infirm adj.Previous versions of the OED give the stress as: unˈfirm. 1. Of a loose or soft consistency; incompact. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > types of softness > [adjective] > lacking firmness unfirm1599 1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet v. iii. 6 The Church-yard..Being loose, vnfirme with digging vp of Graues. View more context for this quotation 1625 K. Long tr. J. Barclay Argenis ii. ii. 71 Further onward the water very deepe, and the ground vnfirme. 1683 T. Tryon Way to Health 95 What is the reason that most Veal is so unfirm and like a Jelly? 1726 G. Leoni tr. L. B. Alberti Architecture II. 117 b When the banks of a River are unfirm, its channel will be stopt up with shelves. 1866 J. B. Rose tr. Ovid Metamorphoses 1 Unfirm the earth, unbuoyant was the wave. †2. Unsound, weak, unreliable; unsteady, flighty. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > time > change > changeableness > [adjective] slidinga900 wankleeOE windyc1000 unsteadfastc1200 fleeting?c1225 loose?c1225 brotelc1315 unstablec1340 varyingc1340 variantc1374 motleyc1380 ungroundedc1380 muablea1393 passiblea1393 remuablea1393 changeablea1398 movablea1398 variablec1397 slidderya1400 ticklec1400 variantc1412 flitting1413 mutable?a1425 movingc1425 flaskisable1430 flickering1430 transmutablec1430 vertible1447 brittlea1450 ficklea1450 permutablec1450 unfirmc1450 uncertain1477 turnable1483 unsteadfast1483 vagrantc1522 inconstant1526 alterable?1531 stirringc1540 slippery1548 various1552 slid?1553 mutala1561 rolling1561 weathery1563 unconstant1568 interchangeable1574 fluctuant1575 stayless1575 transitive1575 voluble1575 changeling1577 queasy1579 desultory1581 huff-puff1582 unstaid1586 vagrant1586 changeful1590 floating1594 Protean1594 unstayed1594 swimming1596 anchorless1597 mobilec1600 ticklish1601 catching1603 labile1603 unrooted1604 quicksilvered1605 versatile1605 insubstantial1607 uncertain1609 brandling1611 rootless1611 squeasy1611 wind-changinga1616 insolid1618 ambulatory1625 versatilous1629 plastic1633 desultorious1637 unbottomed1641 fluid1642 fluent1648 yea-and-nay1648 versipellous1650 flexile1651 uncentred1652 variating1653 chequered1656 slideable1662 transchangeative1662 weathercock-like1663 flicketing1674 fluxa1677 lapsable1678 wanton1681 veering1684 upon the weathercock1702 contingent1703 unsettled?1726 fermentable1731 afloat1757 brickle1768 wavy1795 vagarious1798 unsettled1803 fitful1810 metamorphosical1811 undulating1815 tittupya1817 titubant1817 mutative1818 papier mâché1818 teetotum1819 vacillating1822 capricious1823 sensitive1828 quicksilvery1829 unengrafted1829 fluxionala1834 proteiform1833 liquid1835 tottlish1835 kaleidoscopic1846 versative1846 kaleidoscopical1858 tottery1861 choppy1865 variative1874 variational1879 wimbly-wambly1881 fluctuable1882 shifty1882 giveable1884 shifty1884 tippy1886 mutatory1890 upsettable1890 rocky1897 undulatory1897 streaky1898 tottly1905 tipply1906 up and down1907 inertialess1927 sometimey1946 rise-and-fall1950 switchable1961 the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > mental wandering > light-mindedness > [adjective] lightlyeOE lightOE lightsomea1425 flying1509 light-minded?1529 tickle or light of the sear?1530 giddya1547 light-headed1549 gidded1563 giddish1566 fling-brained1570 tickle-headed1583 toyish1584 shallow1594 leger1598 corky1601 barmy1602 airy1609 unfirma1616 unballast1622 cork-brained1630 unballasted1644 kickshawa1655 unserious1655 unstudious1663 flirtishc1665 caper-witteda1670 shatter-headedc1686 corky-brained1699 flea-lugged1724 halokit1724 shatter-brained1727 scattered-brained1747 shatter-witted1775 flippant1791 butterfly-brained1796 scatter-brained1804 gossamer1806 shandy-pated1806 shattery1820 barmy-brained1823 papilionaceous1832 flirtatious1834 flirty1840 Micawberish1859 scatterheaded1867 flibberty-gibberty1879 thistledown1897 shatter-pated1901 trivial-minded1905 scattery1924 fizgig1928 ditzy1979 c1450 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi iii. lxiv. 149 In þe þerfore I sette all my tribulacion,..for I finde all vnferme & vnstable, what euere I beholde oute of þe. a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) ii. iv. 32 Our fancies are more giddie and vnfirme..Then womens are. View more context for this quotation †3. Weak; wanting in strength or power; feeble, infirm, invalid. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > bodily constitution > bodily weakness > [adjective] wokec897 unstronga900 unmightyeOE feeblec1175 strengthlessc1175 unwieldc1220 weaka1300 frailc1384 unwieldyc1386 unthendec1425 dissolutec1450 unsure?a1475 feyc1475 simple1477 unfirm1483 unsinewed?1541 wash1548 weakling1557 ladylike1566 silly1567 water weak1592 washya1631 wankle1686 foible1715 unmuscular1725 nerveless1792 wankly1795 shilpit1813 wankya1825 sinewless1829 weedy-looking1835 queachy1859 insubstantiala1861 paper-backed1888 weak-fleshed1967 the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > inconstancy > [adjective] unfastc888 unstathelfasteOE unsteadfasta1200 fleeting?c1225 changeablea1275 ficklea1275 unstablec1290 waveringc1315 flickerc1325 loose in the haftc1325 motleyc1380 unsadc1384 variablea1387 variantc1386 ticklec1400 inconstant1402 flitting1413 brittle1420 plianta1425 mutablec1425 shittle1440 shittle-witted1448 moonishc1450 unconstant1483 unfirm1483 varying?a1500 pliablea1513 fluctuant1575 changeling1577 shittle-headed1580 cheverel1583 off and on1583 chameleon-like1589 changeful1590 limber1602 unsteady1604 ticklish1606 skittish1609 startling1619 labile1623 uncertaina1625 cheverelized1625 remuant1625 fluctuate1631 fluctuary1632 various1636 contrarious1643 epileptical1646 fluxilea1654 shittle-braineda1655 multivolent1656 totter-headed1662 on and off1668 self-inconsistent1678 weathercocka1680 whifflinga1680 versatile1682 veering1684 fast and loose1697 inconsistent1709 insteadfast1728 unfixing1810 unsteadied1814 chameleonic1821 labefact1874 ballastless1884 weathercocky1886 whiffle-minded1902 the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by poor growth > [adjective] > growing poorly or withering feyOE withering1599 weak1600 misliking1601 unfirm1616 languishing1683 sickly1697 marcescent1727 weakly1775 miffy1850 wilting1884 society > law > rule of law > illegality > [adjective] > legally invalid or faulty vicious1393 void1433 naughtc1449 irrite1482 frustrate1497 null1542 bad1613 inofficial1632 null and void1651 unfirm1660 uncurrent1702 invalid1768 inept1818 inoperative1885 1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 84/1 Theuangelyste was not so unferme but that he myght gete for hys syght that saynt andrewe gate for hym so lyghtly. a1542 T. Wyatt Psalm xxxii. 243 in Coll. Poems (1969) I..fele my bonis consume and wax vnfarme By dayly rage. 1616 G. Markham tr. C. Estienne et al. Maison Rustique (rev. ed.) iii. ix. 345 A subiect of a more feeble and vnfirme [1600: infirme] nature than the graft it selfe. 1660 Bp. J. Taylor Ductor Dubitantium II. iii. v. Rule 8 §8 For without it, it [sc. marriage] is not only inauspicious and unlucky, but illegal, unfirm and insufficient. 4. Not firmly placed or planted; insecure; unstable, unsteady; liable to slip or fall. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > unsteady movement > [adjective] > tottering > unstable unstable1390 unsteadfasta1400 tickle1515 unstayed1594 unsteady1598 shittle1601 firmless1605 flitty1642 totty1652 shuttlec1682 unfirm1697 wankly1795 wankya1825 cockery1825 wobbly1833 tottlish1835 earthquaky1837 tottling1849 shaky1850 cockly1859 unsteadied1865 shoggy1866 wankle1869 wibblety-wobblety1877 cockerty1895 tipsy1895 rocky1900 wibbly-wobbly1901 tottly1905 topply1913 wibbly1914 the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > [adjective] > of purpose, resolution, etc. softening1600 vacillatorya1734 unfirm1771 equivocal1791 vacillating1828 vacillate1830 mammered1842 ambivalent1923 hedgy1928 on-again off-again1946 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis x, in tr. Virgil Wks. 509 Now take the Time, while stagg'ring yet they stand With Feet unfirm. 1761 Earl of Pembroke Mil. Equitation (1778) 58 Depend upon it those people are not only ignorant and unfeeling, but also very unfirm in their seat. 1771 E. Griffith Hist. Lady Barton III. 20 His supplicating eye..may change my unfirm purpose. 1809 Susan I. 176 Our best resolutions are, however, unfirm. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online September 2021). < adj.c1450
随便看	highest highest common factor highest genus highest good highest movable highest-cost highest-priced highest-quality highest-ranked highestcost highestpriced highestquality highestranked highfalutin highfalutination highfamed highfat highfeatured highfed highfenced highfibre highfield highfinished highfive highfiving